Philosophy – Page 131 – William M. Briggs

Jeffrey Sachs Saves The World

The Price of Civilization: Reawakening American Virtue and Prosperity by Jeffrey Sachs Says Jeffrey Sachs, economics professor at Columbia, "Economic theory indeed supports the view that high tax rates…

Philosophy Statistics

Robert Heinlein And Evolving Probabilities

Writer Stephen Dawson, a long-time participant at this blog, wrote and asked the following: In his The Moon is a Harsh Mistress, Robert Heinlein had his intelligent computer calculate the…

Culture Philosophy Statistics

Are Humans As Violent As In The Good Old Days?

If we had records of massacres as we have meteorological records, don't you think we might discover their internal laws, after several centuries of observation? --- Joseph de Maistre. There…

Philosophy Statistics

The EPA, Dust, And The Ecological Fallacy

In last night's Republican debate, the candidates were asked if they could eliminate just one federal agency, which one would it be? Herman Cain chose the EPA: The first --…

Philosophy Statistics

It’s No Coincidence: Rarity Is Subjective

I have in my hand---you'll have to trust me---a certain blade of grass. He is my favorite. The titling curvature of his blade can only be described as rakish, although…

Philosophy Statistics

What Is Science? Part I

Science says this, science says that. There is no more loquacious entity these days than science. What is it? Climatologists talk of the science. Physicists compliment by saying a fellow…

Philosophy Statistics

Occam’s Razor And Induction

Occam's razor: The simplest hypothesis is usually the best. Simplest is easy to understand, and non-controversial, or relatively so. Consternation creeps in with usually. Before that, first understand what is…

Culture Philosophy

Conversation With A Progressive: The British Riots

Nigel Shocking, just shocking these riots. Wouldn't you agree? David No. I'd say rather that they were expected. Nigel Too right they were. These youth were disaffected. Nothing but products…

CorkyAgain on The Equality ParadoxJuly 10, 2026
Somehow I'd missed that story about Schumer's grilling gaffe. Aside from not lighting the fire or putting cheese on a…
John Pate on The Equality ParadoxJuly 9, 2026
Maybe it wasn't considered safe for Schumer to be near an open flame, having no familiarity with the ordinary tasks…
Fubsy on My Horrible Interaction With AIJuly 9, 2026
Lol, I remember "Iron Eyes Cody," the spaghetti Indian!
Rudolph Harrier on My Horrible Interaction With AIJuly 9, 2026
I've also experienced that thing where it claims to not be able to do something it just did. I see…
Rudolph Harrier on My Horrible Interaction With AIJuly 9, 2026
A couple of things I have noticed about how LLMs have developed in the last year or so: 1.) Somehow…